Newspapers admonished for not running with headline “VARDY 1-1 VAR”

National newspapers in the UK have been accused of a “dereliction of duty” in failing to run the headline “VARDY 1-1 VAR” following England’s draw with Italy.

Gareth Southgate’s side shocked onlookers by looking vaguely lively in the international friendly, taking the lead through Leicester striker Jamie Vardy before succumbing to a controversial VAR penalty decision late on.

And it’s precisely this shock that could explain why newspapers let their customary standards slip in terms of rapier-witted wordplay.

One reader told Football Burp: “It’s a dereliction of duty, it really is.

“Sorry, I’m not quite as fed up and disillusioned as I expected I would be after watching the game.